IIHF Newshttp://www.iihf.com/
IIHF News from www.iifh.comenIIHF Newshttp://www.iihf.com/typo3conf/ext/tt_news/ext_icon.gifhttp://www.iihf.com/
1816IIHF News from www.iifh.comTYPO3 - get.content.righthttp://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rssTue, 31 Mar 2015 17:33:00 +0200Swiss back in quartershttp://www.worldwomen2015.com/en/news/sui-jpn/
Surprising Japanese lose first game The bronze medallist from Sochi, seeded in the lower group due to its placing in the last Women’s Worlds, struggled but didn’t fall. With the victory against Japan the Swiss women’s national team secured a top-two placing in Group B to reach the quarter-finals against the third- or fourth-ranked team of the “upper” group and will potentially face Finland or Russia.

Japan didn’t manage to score against Switzerland despite outshooting their opponent 36-26. The Japanese remain in contention but have to hope for a Swedish loss in the evening game against Germany to make the top-6 for the first time in history, otherwise they will have to play in the best-of-three relegation round against Germany.

It was a must-win game for Switzerland which needed a regulation-time victory if they wanted to reach the quarter-finals on their own while Japan needed one point to make the quarter-finals without being dependent on the outcome of the Germany-Sweden game.

“We knew that we had to win and luckily we were able to score the goal in the first period. We knew that we could beat them if we play solid defence and take few penalties. We were able to execute that and to capitalize on their mistakes,” said Anja Stiefel, who scored the second goal and had an assist on the first marker.

Being put on the spot the Swiss tried to take the lead and succeeded on a goal from Alina Muller after having killed off two penalties. It was the first goal of the tournament for the forward who debuted at the Olympics last year as a 15-year-old.

“The first goal was essential. We lost an exhibition game against them and they beat Sweden. We knew that they would be a tough opponent which we may not underestimate and that we shouldn’t concede a goal against them,” Stiefel added.

Japan tried to react and created more scoring opportunities than the Swiss. But at 10:03 of the second frame the Swiss made it 2-0. Coming back from the penalty box Lara Stalder fed Stiefel, who brought the puck past Japan netminder Nana Fujimoto.

“Switzerland has a strong will,” Fujimoto said. “They really wanted to win and were maybe stronger than us.”

In this tight match-up it was also a game of two top goaltenders with Switzerland’s Florence Schelling as the MVP of the last Olympic women’s ice hockey tournament and Fujimoto as the goalie with the best save percentage (94.92%) after two games. But today it was Schelling’s day as she earned a shutout with 36 saves.

“We had many chances and had a lot of opportunities on the power play but unfortunately we didn’t manage to score, that was the problem in tonight’s game. On the other side they scored twice after our mistakes,” Japan head coach Yoshifumi Fujisawa said.

Fujisawa pulled the goalie twice in the last two minutes to add extra pressure on the Swiss but it wasn’t rewarded as Phoebe Stanz scored the 3-0 goal into the empty net with 45 seconds left in the game.

“We really played well defensively compared to the game against Sweden. We knew that they play well on the power play but at 5-against-5 we were able to play well against them and also our box play was good,” Stiefel said.

And who does she wish for the quarter-finals?

“Actually, it doesn’t matter. We focus on our game and we take whoever comes,” Stiefel said.

The tournament already continues tomorrow for both teams. Switzerland will move to Malmo Isstadion for the quarter-final. Last year in Sochi Switzerland suffered a 4-3 overtime loss to Finland but then beat Russia 2-0 in the quarter-finals en route to the bronze medal win.

Japan will know later tonight whether the next game tomorrow will be in the final round or in a relegation battle against Germany, against which they lost two games in Sochi. But this year Japan has been the surprise team in the first two days of action and blanked Germany 2-0 on Sunday.

MARTIN MERK]]>on leftWorldsWomen10 Japan19 SwitzerlandTue, 31 Mar 2015 17:33:00 +0200Hats off to Lamoureux!http://www.worldwomen2015.com/en/news/rus-usa/
U.S. stays perfect with romp over Russia The turbo-charged Americans have a bye to the semi-finals on Friday. Russia will play the first-place team from Group B in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.

"We’re right where we want to be," said Lamoureux. "We’re the number one seed going into the playoff round, and we get an extra day off."

The most famous game in IIHF history was the “Miracle on Ice,” where the underdog American college kids beat Russia’s state-sponsored elite 4-3 at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics. But there was to be no “reverse Miracle” for the Russian women here.

Hilary Knight scored twice and added an assist. Meghan Duggan, Alex Carpenter, and Brianna Decker had a goal and an assist apiece, and Hannah Brandt also scored for the Americans. Anne Schleper chipped in three helpers and Lee Stecklein had two.

"I definitely think we got a lot faster today," said Carpenter. "That’s one of our greatest assets. We got a lot of goals from different lines and different players, so that was nice to see the full team contribution."

Olga Sosina and Lyudmila Belyakova replied for Russia.

Goaltender Molly Schaus got the win as the U.S. outshot Russia by a whopping 49-5 margin. The Americans have now given all three of their netminders one game apiece.

Following the same pattern as versus Canada, the Russians used two goalies, starting off with Maria Sorokina and then switching to Valeria Tarakanova near the halfway mark.

Apart from a few gaffes in the second period, this was a commanding performance for the defending World Champions.

Relentless pressure was the name of the game for the U.S. from the get-go. The Russians hung on to kill off an early 5-on-3 U.S. power play.

Just as in the 4-2 win over Canada, Jocelyne Lamoureux opened the scoring for the U.S. The two-time Olympian didn’t miss a beat after sitting out against Finland, as the Americans continue to experiment with young talent.

After a faceoff in the Russian end, Lamoureux hustled to the net, scooped up a loose puck from an Anne Schleper blast, and deftly backhanded it past Sorokina at 11:03.

Knight put the U.S. up 2-0 at 2:58 of the second period, coming down the middle, taking a great centering pass from Brianna Decker, and sliding it through the Russian goalie. She has goals in all three U.S. games so far.

Less than three minutes later, Duggan floated a shot from the line through traffic and under the crossbar to make it 3-0.

The Russians put Tarakanova in net in lieu of Sorokina less than a minute, and whether or not the intention was to reverse the tide, it worked -- very temporarily.

Russia cut the deficit to 3-1 at 6:57. Sosina burst into the U.S., pulled a nice inside-out move on blueliner Michelle Picard, and avoided Monique Lamoureux’s check before going top shelf.

A bizarre play enabled the Russians to make it 3-2 at 9:01. Iya Gavrilova cleared the puck out of their zone, and it trickled toward Schaus, who tried to play the puck. Unfortunately, she lost her balance and landed on her rear, enabling the oncoming Lyudmila Belyakova to swat the puck into the gaping cage.

"I think when it’s 3-2, you don’t laugh," said Lamoureux. "When we got up 6-2, then you can kind of laugh about it. She was trying to make the right play and she tripped."

Amazingly, the Russians had now scored on both their shots in the middle frame, and they seemed to have a little life.

Monique Lamoureux turned the puck over at the Russian blue line and Sosina raced away on a near breakaway. Lamoureux rushed back to trip up the Russian attacker, but bashed her head on Schaus, lost her helmet, and got a tripping penalty. However, the Russians couldn't get anything going on the ensuing power play.

And that was it for the mini-comeback.

"Maybe when the score got a little closer, we stopped sticking to our game plan and allowed some mistakes in the defensive zone," said Gavrilova.

With 2:01 left in the middle frame, Jocelyne Lamoureux stepped up with a big power play goal to restore the U.S.’s two-goal lead, hammering a one-timer from the left faceoff circle on a nice Schleper feed.

At 19:14, Brandt made it 5-2 U.S., going to the net and roofing a deft Haley Skarupa feed from behind the goal line. For the second straight period, the U.S. outshot Russia 14-2.

"You can tell they’re faster than us," Gavrilova said of the Americans. "They’re always checking us, always on us, taking time and space away from us."

In the third period, Jocelyne Lamoureux completed her hat trick with the man advantage, pounding a slapper that squeezed through Tarakanova's pads at 4:16. And she made it a four-point night for herself when she set up Alex Carpenter for the seventh U.S. goal at 7:55.

Lamoureux was modest about her exploits: "On the second and third goals, I really had great screens. The goalie didn’t see the puck. I’m not going to score those goals without those screens."

With 6:50 left, Decker cruised into the high slot and unleashed a slapper that beat Tarakanova inside her left post for an 8-2 gap.

Knight rounded out the onslaught, scoring her fifth of the tournament with 2:25 left on a 4-on-3 power play.

Russia has now lost nine consecutive games to the U.S. at the Women’s Worlds, dating back to 1999.

Gavrilova still chose to accentuate the positive in terms of Russia's tournament to date, however: "I think we got better every game. I think we’re going in the right direction."

LUCAS AYKROYD]]>on leftWorldsWomen15 Russia20 United StatesTue, 31 Mar 2015 16:31:00 +0200Freibergs suspendedhttp://www.iihf.com/channels/iihf-world-u20-championship/news-singleview-world-u20-ia-channel/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=9536
Latvian out two years for doping Freibergs’ suspension began on February 23, 2014, and will end on February 22, 2016. During this time he is ineligible for the participation in all competitions or activities authorized or organized by IIHF or any IIHF Member Association.

The suspension was implemented after the Court of Arbitration of Sport dismissed an appeal by Freibergs.

The case concerns the use of a prohibited substance according to section S1. of the World Anti-Doping Code 2014 Prohibited List (Anabolic Agents). On February 19, 2014, immediately following the quarter-final game between Canada and Latvia, Freibergs was requested to submit to doping control. On February 22, 2014, the head of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accredited Laboratory in Sochi notified the IOC regarding an adverse analytical finding found in the Player’s A Sample, namely an anabolic androgenic steroid called Turinabol.

The Player’s B-sample confirmed the adverse analytical finding of the A-sample. On 23 April, 2014 the IOC Disciplinary Committee decided that the Player committed a doping violation and correspondingly requested the IIHF to consider whether it should take any further action within its competence. On April 28, 2014 the IIHF General Secretary provisionally suspended Freibergs, and on May 5, 2014 the IIHF General Secretary provided Freibergs a provisional suspension hearing, during which he upheld the provisional suspension.

Freibergs appealed the decision of the IOC Disciplinary Committee to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland. In its Arbitral Award, dated 17 December, 2014, CAS dismissed all of the arguments raised by the Player which mainly called into question the validity of the analytical results.

Contrary to the Player’s submissions, CAS found no reason to consider the analysis of the samples, which had been taken in Sochi by the Anti-Doping Olympic Laboratory Sochi, as invalid. According to Article 3.2.1, first sentence, of the World Anti-Doping Code (Code), WADA-accredited laboratories are presumed to have conducted sample analysis and custodial procedures in accordance with the International Standard for Laboratories.

The player has not rebutted this presumption by establishing reasonable facts as the Court of Arbitration for Sport has decided in its Arbitral Award of December 17, 2014.In support of this decision, the Deciding Panel refers to the reasons set forth in this decision, namely under section IV., the Deciding Panel shares this view . As the Player’s attorney in his statement of February 17, 2015 upheld his allegation that the laboratory in Sochi was an unlawful institution and therefore not entitled to test the sample taken on February 19, 2014, the Deciding Panel wants to specify the following:

The Laboratory in Sochi has fulfilled all requirements set up by the Code. There is no clause to be found in the Code that requires the laboratories used by the IOC must be registered under local law. The laboratories must be accredited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), which was the case with the Sochi laboratory. Therefore the Player’s argument that the analysis of the Players sample was invalid, because no legally (under Russian law) accredited laboratory was registered under the address ‘Adler District, Sochi’ (the – incomplete - address of the Anti-Doping Olympic Laboratory Sochi), has no legal meaning.

The period of ineligibility to be imposed for the violation of Code Article 2.1 according to IIHF Disciplinary Regulation Article 5.7, Code Article 10.2 - for the first violation - should be two (2) years.

The term of 2 year’s ineligibility results from IIHF Disciplinary Regulations Article 5.7, Code Article 10.2 – first violation; the status during ineligibility follows from IIHF Disciplinary Regulations Article 5.4, Code Article 10.10.1. According to IIHF Disciplinary Regulations Article 5.3, Code Article 10.9.3, the provisional suspension imposed by the IIHF is to be credited against the period of ineligibility ultimately imposed. Considering that the substantial delays in the hearing process until the decision of the IOC Olympic Disciplinary Committee and the period until the provisional suspension was imposed are not attributable to the Player (Code Article 10.9.1),the period of ineligibility starts one day after the result of the B-sample was notified.]]>on rightIIHF12 LatviaTue, 31 Mar 2015 14:01:00 +0200Playoff battlehttp://www.worldwomen2015.com/
Japan, Sweden, Switzerland battle for QF berthon topWorldsWomenTue, 31 Mar 2015 11:53:00 +0200Paigin suspended for stick throwhttp://www.iihf.com/channels/iihf-world-u20-championship/news-singleview-world-u20-ia-channel/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=9535
Russian player to miss two gamesThe suspension will go into effect at the 2016 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship.

The incident occurred after the end of the third period of the game. When the game was concluded Paigin was in the Canadian zone as the Canadian players began to celebrate their win. As he returned to join his team, before crossing the blue line and being positioned close to the boards and the glass, Paigin threw his stick with his right arm over the glass into the stands and thus at the spectators.

The player was penalized with a game misconduct for throwing the stick according to Official Playing Rule 165 I.

In a written statement, Paigin explained that he threw his stick to the fans “as a souvenir as a gesture of appreciation” of the Team Russia fans’ support “following an existing tradition”. In addition, he explained that there was no malicious intent aimed to injure fans and the throw of the stick with one hand to the stands was not strong as he just had to throw the stick over the glass.

The Deciding Panel came to the conclusion that the video of the relevant scene shows clearly that the accused player threw his stick over the glass into the stands, thus violating Rule 165 I. This action did not happen as a gesture of appreciation of the fans’ support as the player alleges. There is no sign whatsoever in the player’s gestures or face during and after the action that would allow such an interpretation; the only explanation is that the player acted out of frustration.

The Deciding Panel wants to point out that – at least in international games - there is no “tradition” of throwing sticks into the stands as a gesture of appreciation of the fan’s support and that such a “tradition” could not be tolerated and is not tolerated by the IIHF.

The Deciding Panel is of the opinion that the penalty foreseen in Rule 165 I. is not adequate to the action of the player. Throwing a hockey-stick into the stands is a dangerous action; spectators can be hurt and are hurt. To find the appropriate sanction, the Deciding Panel referred to Rule 168 IV. 3, according to which a player who (only) swings his stick at a spectator will be assessed a match penalty. Throwing a hockey-stick at the spectators in the stands definitely is a more serious violation than just swinging a stick at a spectator without hitting anybody.

Considering the recklessness and danger of throwing a hockey stick and the unsportsmanlike behavior after a lost game, the Deciding Panel is of the opinion that a suspension for two games is adequate to sanction this action.

The Panel therefore has suspended Paigin for the first two games of his team at the 2016 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship. ]]>15 Russiaon leftTue, 31 Mar 2015 11:00:00 +0200WW Top 25 Stories: #5http://www.worldwomen2015.com/en/news/ww25-5/
First women inducted into IIHF Hall of Fame Its members elect those Players and Builders who will be inducted during the ceremonies which take place annually during the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in May.

But in November 2007, the meetings took on added significance because the 2008 Induction Ceremonies would be part of the IIHF’s 100th anniversary celebrations, and the World Championship was to be played for the first time in Canada (Quebec City, Halifax).

The Selection Committee had no trouble agreeing to add Mario Lemieux, Igor Larionov, Philippe Bozon, and Art Berglund to its pantheon of greats, but when the subject of women came up, they realized they were making history.

The Committee decided on two Canadians and one American for the players’ contributions to the women’s game. Geraldine Heaney and Angela James of the host nation were joined by adversary and long-respected American, Cammi Granato.

“I am immensely happy that we have reached the phase in hockey history when we rightfully can induct women to the player’s category,” said IIHF President and Selection Committee head René Fasel.

“Almost two decades have passed since we started with the IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship, and the first pioneers have retired, which means that the selection committee could, with perspective, evaluate their contributions to the game. This was a very important decision in the history of the IIHF and it feels very good that this coincides with the 100-year anniversary of the IIHF and that they will be inducted in Quebec City, Canada, the country that has led the development of women’s hockey.”

The world took notice. This was the last barrier to full respect for the women, a tremendous opportunity to put men and women side by side and say they are, in their own way and in their own game, equal. The Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto could not help but take notice, and a year-and-a-half later it also inducted its first – and still only – two women: James and Granato.

Of course, the symbolic importance of the ceremony was of the highest magnitude. Yes, these three women were great players, the games first superstars, but for the IIHF to take that leap, to have faith in the women’s game and put women beside men with equality, was perhaps even the greater gesture than honouring these three great women.

Rivals during their playing days, the Canadians and American united in understanding the importance of their honour.

“It's something that's started now, and from now on a lot more women will be inducted into the Hall of Fame," said James. "Its just a building step for the future of our sport. It's not female or male. It's hockey. It's our game."

Granato concurred: “The women's game is young, and I think it was the right time. I was fortunate to be playing at the right time."

Heaney added that, "It's great because now we're finally being recognized not only in our own country but worldwide. There are so many young girls playing hockey now. It's amazing.”]]>on topIIHF03 Canada20 United Stateson lefton rightTue, 31 Mar 2015 09:47:00 +0200Grahm nails it for Swedenhttp://www.worldwomen2015.com/en/news/grahm-nails-it-for-sweden/
Top goal-scorer is thriving, not just surviving The Swedish player was taken ill in the summer of 2011, suffering from pain, tingling, headaches, and exhaustion. Her legs virtually stopped working. Sometimes, she found herself in bed for up to 22 hours a day. She lost feeling in one side of her face.

Doctors initially diagnosed Grahm with multiple sclerosis, but then a specialist correctly identified it as Guillain-Barre syndrome. This is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks the nervous system. After spending a week hooked up to an IV unit in the hospital, she spent a month at home recovering before finally lacing up her skates again.

What would the future hold?

“She worked really hard after this sickness,” said linemate Emma Nordin, who also plays with Grahm with Modo Hockey, a club in the northern Swedish town of Ornskoldsvik. “She deserves everything she has. She’s getting better and better all the time.”

It was tough for Grahm to regain her speed and strength, but she persevered with daily physical workouts and psychological coaching. And now she’s thriving.

The 24-year-old forward is participating in her fourth Women’s Worlds, and she also chipped in four assists in six games when she made her Olympic debut in Sochi.

In December, she put out a book called From Paralyzed to an Olympian. co-written with Olof Wigren and published by the Vasteras-based company Idrottsforlaget, it provides not only an inspirational look at her challenging road to recovery, but also an insider’s view of women’s hockey in Sweden.

Yet Grahm makes it clear that here in Malmo, she’s not thinking about how many copies she can sell or where her next book signing might take place. “I don’t think about my book now,” she told IIHF.com. “I’m only focused on hockey and being a good player out there.”

How good has she been? Her four goals so far in this tournament (including a hat trick against Japan) equal her entire output from her three previous Women’s Worlds. If the host nation goes on to capture its first medal since 2007, she’ll be a big reason why.

“She’s been in a zone,” said Swedish head coach Leif Boork. “She’s scored a lot of goals in the league too. I am not surprised that she has scored so many goals here.”

Grahm comes from a Modo club that’s world-famous for producing NHL superstars like Markus Naslund, the Sedin twins, and Peter Forsberg, the current GM. While she admires Forsberg’s style, and sees him regularly since she works in Modo’s offices, she said her true inspiration for playing hockey came from a former Modo female player, Therese Sjolander.

In a nod to Grahm’s hockey acumen, Swedish TV recently invited her to serve as a guest commentator for its broadcast of the Swedish women’s hockey finals between AIK and Linkoping.

Away from the rink, Grahm likes to relax with the music of Swedish singer-songwriter Lars Winnerbeck, and watch her favourite TV series, like One Tree Hill and Gossip Girl. She enjoys golfing in the summer and spending time with her friends and family.

She cheerfully volunteers that she has some “girly” tendencies: “I do my nails and I have fake eyelashes. I like to be a girl outside the rink. I think it’s fun. These are my World Championship nails. Can you see it?”

Fans can’t see it when she’s wearing hockey gloves, but her nails are painted blue and yellow, the Swedish colours. Last month, she says she painted them red in honour of Modo.

Grahm’s fun, optimistic personality embodies a great message for young women everywhere: you can confront a seemingly insurmountable obstacle, overcome it, and feel the joy of life again.

And whether you’re talking about her personal style or her goal-scoring ability, there’s no doubt about one thing: Erika Grahm is absolutely nailing it for Sweden.

LUCAS AYKROYD]]>on topWorldsWomen18 Swedenon lefton rightMon, 30 Mar 2015 14:10:00 +0200WW Top 25 Stories: #6http://www.worldwomen2015.com/en/news/ww25-6/
Women’s hockey becomes an Olympic event The first IIHF Women’s Worlds had taken place two years earlier in Ottawa, and now the second incarnation was being staged in Tampere, Finland. The Finns defeated Sweden, 6-3, to win bronze in 1990, giving them symbolic preference for the first women’s event in Europe.

Canada had a pretty easy time making it to the gold-medal game, and the Americans were equally impressive with one important exception. On the final day of the preliminary round, the vaunted U.S. played the hosts.

Although the Americans scored first, the Finns came back with two quick goals and added a third midway through the second, taking a 3-1 lead in stunning fashion. The U.S. made it 3-2 soon after and pulled away with the only three goals of the third, but it was a dangerously close game for the Americans and a scintillatingly exciting game for the Tampere fans.

In the bronze-medal game, the Finns played arch-rivals Sweden in a thrilling contest. Teams went back and forth, and with one minute to play in the third, it was a 3-3 game. Camilla Kempe of Sweden scored with only 59 seconds to play, and the Finns looked out of it.

The importance of that game to women’s hockey history cannot be over-stated.

“Gilbert Felli and Pirjo Hagman were sent by the IOC to Finland to see if this sport should be in the Olympics,” Fran Rider explained. “The bronze-medal game went to a shootout, Finland beat Sweden. It was one of the best hockey games I’ve ever seen, to this day. That game did a lot to seal our place in the Olympics.”

After the success of the 1990 event, women players and executives hoped to get the sport into the 1994 Olympics, but time was just too tight. After the great successes of 1992, however, Rider and her colleagues were able to get the IIHF on board to make a presentation to the IOC for 1998 in Nagano.

On 21 July 1992, at the 99th IOC Session it was made official. Women’s hockey would be a full-medal sport in Nagano. It was a momentous day for the game, and five Olympics later the legacy of those early years lives on in the hopes and ambitions of millions of girls around the world who dream one day of winning Olympic gold in women’s ice hockey. In 1992, that dream did not yet exist except in the minds of a few ambitious people.]]>on topOlympicsWorldsWomenon rightMon, 30 Mar 2015 13:47:00 +0200Shootout kingshttp://www.iihf.com/channels/iihf-world-u20-championship/news-singleview-world-u20-ia-channel/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=9531
Iceland’s U18 with five tight wins to Division IITop-seeded Iceland started with a 3-1 victory against host Chinese Taipei. Elvar Olafsson opened the scoring on a two-man advantage and added a second goal when the Icelanders were playing shorthanded en route to the win. This two-goal gap turned out to be the biggest for the Icelanders in this tournament but they still won.

In the second game Iceland had a tight battle with Bulgaria. The northmen went up 3-1 in the first period but before the first intermission Bulgaria tied the game at three and gained a 4-3 lead with Kostadin Davidov’s goal at 7:06 of the second frame. Iceland fought back in a strong third period and was eventually rewarded with Edmunds Induss’ goal 101 seconds before the end of regulation time. Olafsson then scored the only goal in the shootout to earn his team a win and a second point from this game.

After a day off history repeated for Iceland in the game against Mexico. The Mexicans earned the lead with an early goal from Diego Ramos. Olafsson tied the score early in the second period but Antonio Najera regained the lead for Mexico with 103 seconds left in the middle frame. Iceland put everything on offence in the third period and was again rewarded late. With goalie Arnar Hjaltested pulled, Iceland’s Latvian-born forward Induss tied the game with 30 seconds left in regulation time. After two rounds of game-winning shots Iceland won the game with goals from Induss and Solvi Atlason.

Iceland also successfully came back in the game against South Africa. Despite outshooting the opponent 69-18 the game remained open until late in the third period. The underdogs from Africa earned a 3-2 lead early in the second period that stayed until midway through the third frame when Markus Maack tied the game at three. Six minutes later Kristjan Kristinsson and Induss added two markers within a span of 59 minutes to make it 5-3. South Africa reacted immediately with Gareth Bremner’s second marker of the day but didn’t manage to tie the game in the dying seconds of the game.

Everything the Icelanders needed on the last day was at least one point against Israel and everything seemed to work out well with three unanswered goals from Altason, Induss and captain Hafthor Sigrunarson. However, Israel challenged the Icelanders. Two goals within 33 seconds from Gur Sever and Dan Hoffman in the second period were a wake-up call for the Icelanders, who defended the 3-2 lead until the end.

Fifth-seeded Mexico improved its ranking in the U18 program with a second-place finish after edging Bulgaria 2-1 in a shootout on the last day, Bulgaria had to settle for the bronze medals. Host Chinese Taipei finished in fourth place also with eight points while Israel was fifth. South Africa lost all games and will be relegated back to the Division III Group B.

Click here for scores and stats.]]>WorldsU18IcelandMexicoBulgariaChinese TaipeiIsraelSouth Africaon lefton rightMon, 30 Mar 2015 13:05:00 +0200Korea celebrates in stylehttp://www.iihf.com/channels/iihf-world-u20-championship/news-singleview-world-u20-ia-channel/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=9530
U18 national team wins Division II Group AThe Koreans dominated the tournament and won on the last day the “final” of the two undefeated teams against top seed Poland.

The biggest struggle for the Koreans came on Day 1 when they were outshot 35-33 by Great Britain that tried to fight back from a 3-0 deficit after Sang Yoon Shin and two times Jaein Ahn had scored for Korea in the first two periods. But eventually to Koreans defeated the British 4-2.

The tournament continued for the Koreans with wins over Croatia (7-0), Estonia (7-1) and the Netherlands (6-3) before facing Poland.

Thanks to an early goal from Mingyu Park and Byung Gun Kim’s power-play marker at the beginning of the second frame the Koreans took the lead. Poland had a strong second period and tried to fight back with Oskar Rzekanowski shortening the lead but Ahn and Kim with his second goal of the game added two more markers for the 4-2 victory and the tournament win. Ahn also became the tournament’s scoring leader thanks to this goal.

Poland had to settle for silver and Great Britain earned the bronze medals thanks to a 4-3 shootout victory against the Netherlands on the last day, which finished fourth.

Croatia got its only win on the last day against host Estonia, 5-4, to stay in this group while winless Estonia has to go back to Division II Group B.